Emergency action has been taken to protect the health, welfare, and safety of children involved in a child care group home whose license has been summarily suspended by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Community & Health Systems today.
The bureau issued an order of summary suspension and a notice of intent to revoke the license of Julie Pellow who operated a Cass County group child care home at 28805 Fairlane in Dowagiac for more than 20 years. The Michigan Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs in Lansing says the action “resulted from a recent complaint investigation of the group child care home.”
The complaint investigation, undertaken last Friday, January 20th, found “violations of the Child Care Organizations Act and administrative rules regarding caregiver suitability, appropriate care and supervision, caregiver responsibilities, outdoor play area maintenance, and children’s records.” The emergency action took effect immediately at 6pm that same day and the order of suspension prohibits Pellow from operating a group child care home at that address on Fairlane, “or at any other address or location.”
The bureau says accordingly, Pellow “may not accept children for care after that date and time.” The order also requires Pellow to inform all parents of children in her care that her license has been suspended and that she can no longer provide child care.
Pellow had held a license to operate a group child care home for more than 20 years since first being license on August 16th of 1995. Her license was for up to a dozen children.
Michigan law defines a group child care home as “a private home in which more than six but not more than 12 minor children are given care and supervision for periods of less than 24 hours a day, unattended by a parent or legal guardian, except children related to an adult member of the family by blood, marriage, or adoption. Group child care home includes a home that gives care to an unrelated minor child for more than four weeks during a calendar year.”
Pellow has the right to appeal the suspension and revocation, and the case will be forwarded to the Michigan Administrative Hearing System for a hearing date.
No further information was provided by the state regarding the complaint filed against Pellow and her group child care home.
